A workshop on Illegal Satellite and Online TV Channel was held at Thingaha Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw at 9 am yesterday.
Deputy Minister for Information U Aung Hla Tun, Hluttaw Representatives, Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Information, Commerce and Office of Union Attorney-General, Head of the Departments, Myanmar Police Force, Chairman of Myanmar Broadcaster Association, directors, content providers, people from online media industry and invited guests attended the event.
At the opening ceremony, the Deputy Minister said the country has state-run Myanmar TV, Defence Service-run MWD, and channels launched through joint ventures with the Forever Group and SkyNet. Five more broadcasting networks have been given permission to operate after them, he added.
“But, several illegal satellite dishes receiving transmission from neighboring countries have had a huge impact on Myanmar society. They are a threat to the broadcasting businesses, which pay taxes to the country. Furthermore, they exert a great influence over the people, philosophy, religion, and culture,” he said.
“The next problem is online TV channels. It is hard to ascertain how many are out there. If we observe carefully, we will find that even though some channels abide by the rules, most of them don’t,” he added.
“The consequences of ignoring these situation will be catastrophic. Thus, this workshop has been called to find solutions to these problems. This is not a debate, but a session for brainstorming, exchanging of views, and discussions. To analyze the result of these sessions, legal and business experts and all concerned organizations have been encouraged to attend,” the Deputy Minister said.
He also urged the attendees to discuss their views openly and to help find solutions.
Then, the Chairman of Myanmar Broadcaster Association, U Ko Ko said that the discussions should be extended to illegal satellite dishes and illegal online TV Channels. These illegal channels are working outside the law and by bypassing the law invading the country’s air territory, he said.
He also called for taking necessary measures in accordance with the broadcasting law, saying that every law guarantees to standardize, keep order, resolve dispute and protect freedom and rights.
U Ko Ko urged the participants of the meeting to discuss the issue based on the fact that the law is to protect freedom and right to produce good results at the workshop.
At the meeting, Deputy Chief Engineer of MRTV Daw Zin War Kyu acted as the coordinator, and Director of MBA U Min Min, Assistant Director of the Department of Trade, Daw Yee Yee Mon, Senior Executive Director of Shwe Than Lwin Media Company Limited, Dr. Thein Then Oo, Legal Expert of Canal Plus Myanmar Ltd, Daw Yee Yee Mon Myint, discussed based on their experiences in the areas of broadcast sector and gave suggestions to overcome challenges and difficulties.
Then, under the title of “what could be done about illegal satellite”, with U Ko Ko of MBA as a coordinator , Director of Prosecution Department, Daw Yu Yu Khin, Deputy Director General of Department of Communication, U Soe Naing, Police Col Tun Nay Win, Deputy Director of Department of Trade Daw Aye Aye Win discussed ways for overcoming the challanges.
Afterwards, under the title of “ current state of Online TV” Senior Chief Engineer of Shwe Than Lwin Media Co.,Ltd , U Thein Lin, Executive Producer of Kamaryut Media , U Nay Maung Than, General Manager of Forever Group Co.,Ltd, U Kyaw Kyaw, Secretary of MBA U Zaw Thet Maung and Director of MRTV U Zayar discussed.
With Deputy Director -General of MRTV ( Retired) U Win Kyi as a coordinator, a discussion by Director of Department of Resource Management Daw Seint Seint Aye, Director of Department of Consumer Affairs U Swe Tint Kyuu, a member of MBA, U Ye Naing Soe, Police Major Nyin Chan Aung of Criminal Investigation Department and CEO U Thaung Su Nyein discussed under the title “ how to tackle Online TV problem”.
Attendees’ questions followed and experts answered the questions.
A summary was drawn from the discussion by coordinators, Daw Zin War Kyuu, U Ko Ko, U Thein Lin and U Win Kyi. Deputy Minister delivered conclusion speech. — MNA
(Translated by Alphonsus)
